The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1887-11-10
A Prison sHoE.sHoP.
dow the ConVicts Work In the virEinli
state Penitemtiary.

doW the Conviets Work In the virEinIa
state Penitentiary.
One visit made BY members OF Post
i've Of Lynn while at Richmond was Of
unusual interest. and slight deserip-
ton Of il will no doubt be interesting.
The visit referred to was that enjoyed
By very few TO the Richmond peni.
Tertiary. This old-time prison is one
Of the oldest buildings Of its kind in
the United States II was built In 1927
and now contains eight hundred and
eighteen prisoners. f0ur-fifths Of whom
are blacks. All are clothed in prison
uniform. The youngest prisoner with
IN the walls il cOiOred boy, thirteen
years old. who is serving life sentence
for the murder u his brother by shoot
ing.
As many Of our citizens know. the
industry Of the penitentiary is shoe
making; the work is controlled by and
Is for a shoe company Of Lynn. Mass,
and 3 great amount Of work is exc
cuted. forty % fifty cases Of shoes b.
ing turned out per day. The large
prison - really = mammoth shoe shop
as no other work is carried on there.
Every branch q the work Is kept by
itself. and each room and the prisoners
therein are in charge Of foreman and
overseer. The foreman pays his whole
attention 70 directing the work, while
the oversser's dutyis 10 preserve order,
mforce the rules Of the institution.
pnly as far ~ bis room goes, however,
md only for such length Of time IS bis
men are In his room doing their work.
Every prisoner. when be has learned
one branch Of shoeAsklng. e required
30 do stint Some learn quickly, and
soon become fine workmen. performing
their duty In quick time. aud then take
half q dsy'B rest. 0thers. in the
same line Of work. require all
day to do the certain number
Of pairs expected Of them. A certain
length Of time Is given beginners 10
which b work before the sti0t is given
IN case the novice shows = disposition
20 do his best, and sill does not per
form the required amount Of work pei
day, because Of his lack Of experience
and practice, be resolves q warning.
and an additional suggestion, perhaps
and 6nally becomes able 20 perform
the amount Of work assigned him. On
he other hand. Il q man viii not learn.
or refuses 70 do the number Of pairs ne
quired. be Is taken BY the oversssF to 3
place Of retirement held over barrel
by two eonvicts and given q certain
number Of lashes on the back. After
this there Is little or no trouble. .
The whipping Is done with = single
leather lssh. Punishment ranges from
i've t0 thirty-nine lashes. the latter
Number being but seldom administered.
and only in cases Of very serious misde-
msanor. An occasional sPoiling Of =
shoe while IN course Of manufacture
calls for 8 reprimand from the over
seer. but when the accidents occur Of.
ten and are caused by earelessnsss, or
perhaps done on purpose. the barrel act
is next on the programme.
In the lasting department there are
many expert workmen, and some Of
the lasters are not likely 10 become IN
accustomed 70 the work as they are in
for life. An ordinary prisoner. when
learning 70 last, usually requires seven
weeks practice before he can do good
work reasonably fast Some have
learned in five weeks, bot such cases are
rare. Those who are expert In what
ever department they are employed
are permitted to do extra work. and
receive pay in cash. The prisoners are
allowed IRE ounces Of tobacco per
week, and when not az work they are
allowed 70 smoke their pipes in the cor.
ridors facing their cells where they
promenade or bssk in the sun In front
Of their cell door. This Is the universal
custom when the prisoner has finished
his stint and takes his lay-oH rest and
recreation.